The Lexington Division of Police Financial Crimes Unit on Tuesday said it has recently received multiple complaints about home improvement scams, and senior citizens have often been targeted.

They said people should be wary of unsolicited contractors who come to their homes saying the house needs repairs that the homeowner has never noticed before. Scammers often suggest work to roofs, gutters, chimneys and driveways.

People should never agree to have work done on the spot. Scam contractors often claim to offer a "special deal" because they have material left over from another job, police said.

Homeowners should check references, get two written estimates and set up a payment schedule that includes final payment after the job is finished.